The Transformative Gospel – Sermon on John 4

What does it look like to live a life transformed by the Gospel? The story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4 gives us a glimpse of some of the ways in which this woman’s life was transformed by meeting Jesus. If you’ve ever wondered “but what happened next in her… Continue reading The Transformative Gospel – Sermon on John 4

Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?

This question was asked in an online group I am a member of, by a person who describes herself as a “healthy sceptic” about religion. This is a somewhat expanded and edited version of my answer to her question in that forum. Q: Bronwen, after reading the Bible (King James version) please explain how it… Continue reading Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?

Easter Women – a Resurrection Sunday Reflection

*This is not by any means an exegetical piece. It is more in the nature of a fictitious retelling of the events of the first Good Friday and Easter Sunday from the imagined perspective of the women at the tomb and cross. Some details come directly from Scripture, some are creative licence …  Sunday morning creeps… Continue reading Easter Women – a Resurrection Sunday Reflection

Samaritan Sinner, Celebrated Saint: The Story of the First Christian Missionary

The Samaritan Woman – John 4 This article first appeared in the Winter 2016 edition of Mutuality (www.cbeinternational.org). In April 2017, it received 4th place in the “Personality” category of the Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals in Christian Journalism Awards. When I was a child, a popular Australian women’s magazine had a regular section on “Great Women of… Continue reading Samaritan Sinner, Celebrated Saint: The Story of the First Christian Missionary

We Are Women

We are women Walking in the spirit of Abigail Unafraid to use our intelligence and resources To protect those who depend on us And to do what is right in Your sight We are women Walking in the spirit of Priscilla Ready to use our gifts to let Your truth blossom And cause untruth to… Continue reading We Are Women

Mary, Did You Know?

Parenthood is a (presumably lifelong) state of wishing and hoping, what-ifs and wondering. It starts with pregnancy. What if something goes wrong? Let’s not tell anyone until we reach the “magic” three month mark. What sex will my baby be? Will I be a good parent? How much is labour going to hurt? After the… Continue reading Mary, Did You Know?

Q&A: Gender Roles in Marriage, Part 2

In the previous post of this Q&A on gender roles in marriage, we began looking at whether specific gender roles are God’s design for Christian marriages – roles in which, specifically, the husband is to take responsibility for leadership and the wife is to help and to submit. Firstly, we started in Genesis, and found… Continue reading Q&A: Gender Roles in Marriage, Part 2

“Enwhitenment”: The Bible’s Surprising Take on Men & Women

Is the Bible any sort of a place to find relevant and useful ideas on gender issues? And what does this question have to do with an ad for photocopier paper? (Those are two sentences you never expected to find in the one paragraph!) In this post, I provide an overview of the treatment of women throughout… Continue reading “Enwhitenment”: The Bible’s Surprising Take on Men & Women

God’s Design Courses 2016

Have you ever sat through a sermon, and come out fuming or saddened or just plain frustrated about some aspect of what the pastor said about marriage or women, but you haven’t known how to really put a biblical perspective on what you felt was wrong with what you heard? Or perhaps you’re a woman… Continue reading God’s Design Courses 2016

Restoring Mary Magdalene

Ahhh…ignorance. Some people clearly find it blissful, or the Da Vinci Code would never have been a best-seller. You may have noticed in recent years, that if any matter related to Christianity is “interesting” enough to make it into the popular media, it is almost certainly based on a solid dose of ignorance wrapped up… Continue reading Restoring Mary Magdalene